The T5 Q&a Thread

[JurisHP]

Grim please help!

Grim please help!

Grim:

I just purchased the following for my 180G mixed reef, which includes Torch Corals, Hammer Corals, 1 clam, Frogspawn, Colt Coral, zoos, Mushrooms, Gonopora, Xenia, Ricordia and a bunch of fish:

2 x 39W 12000K Aquablue Special by ATI
4 x 39W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI
2 x 39W 10000K AquaSun by UV Lighting
2 x 39W Super Actinic by UV Lighting
2 x 39W Fiji Purple by Korallen Zucht

How should I arrange the bulbs from front to back? Will this lighting fry my corals or bleach them? Should I keep certain corals low?

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14062113#post14062113 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JurisHP
Grim:

I just purchased the following for my 180G mixed reef, which includes Torch Corals, Hammer Corals, 1 clam, Frogspawn, Colt Coral, zoos, Mushrooms, Gonopora, Xenia, Ricordia and a bunch of fish:

2 x 39W 12000K Aquablue Special by ATI
4 x 39W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI
2 x 39W 10000K AquaSun by UV Lighting
2 x 39W Super Actinic by UV Lighting
2 x 39W Fiji Purple by Korallen Zucht

How should I arrange the bulbs from front to back? Will this lighting fry my corals or bleach them? Should I keep certain corals low?

Thanks!

I doubt the nova pro is going to produce enough light to fry anything in a 180.

Front
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Super Actinic
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Nova Extreme Pro or Sunlignt Supply Tek?

Re: Nova Extreme Pro or Sunlignt Supply Tek?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14062246#post14062246 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tsprice82
I would like to upgrade my lighting on my 90 gallon (48x18x24) and wondered whether the additional cost of the Tek fixture (about $100 more vs the Nova Extreme Pro) is worth it in the long run. If you don't mind could you tell me what extra benefits there would be with the Tek fixture. I am looking at the 6X54w fixtures, will that be enough lighting to keep clams? Also, if I went with Tek what bulb configuration would be a good mix?

Thanks so much for your help!

Tek uses better material and better engineering for the reflectors. Downside is no cooling but you can get a 2 fan Azoo clamp on array from fosters and smith that will do the trick for the Tek. You clamp it on the rear of the tank about center of the fixture. You want the fan to blow across the back side of the fixture so air passes above and below the fixture if possible. You don't want the fans blowing diretly at the lamps. Just more the air around the lamps.

Front
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14062805#post14062805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nereaga
Well will start with the cons with the Tek.

1. No active cooling fans on unit.

2. No splash shield included.

3. No bulbs included.

So you would have to invest in a splash shield, which is an extra $60 and then some small fans should be mounted near the fixture to cool the bulbs and unit, thus making the unit run more efficiently and cooling the bulbs will increase output. And lastly you would have to buy 6 bulbs at around $20 each.

The NEP, has active cooling, comes with splash shield, and bulbs are included.

Pros:

Tek has actual individual reflectors, while the NEP has one big shield bent around each bulb, not the same but pretty close, IMO.

They both don't have moonlights either.

I might have missed something, as I am not a pro in lighting by any means....

With the Nova you gotta use the splash shield or it messes with the cooling

At this point I dont recomend using a splash shield with a Tek under any circumstances. With a shield placed loosely on the fixture and an external fan it just gets too hot. There might be a better way to cool it with a fan and shield but I havent had a chance to figure it out yet.

In most cases if the fixture is better than 4" above the water you don't have to have the shield.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Bulb Question

Re: Bulb Question

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14063727#post14063727 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefer357
I currently have a 65 gallon tank 48" across and 22" depth with mostly zoos and acans. I currently have a current nova extreme 4 bulbs x 54 watts. I know I should have a better fixture but right now this is what I am stuck with. I was thinking of replacing the bulbs with following 1. ATI blue plus 2. ATI blue plus 3. ATI 1200k 4. ATI blue plus. Or 1. ATI blue plus 2. Korallen-zucht 50% blue 50% white 3. Korallen-zucht 50% blue 50% white 4. ATI blue plus. I am up for any recommedations or a fixture recommendation when I get some money together.

Thanks

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

Or how ever you need to arrange it so you get the two blues for dusk/dawn.

Aquactinics Constellation or ATI fixture would be good replacements.

 

[rtparty]

Grim,

How do you decide what order to put the bulbs in? Do you try to isolate the yellows between blues? What makes the best dusk/dawn?

 

[Troy the Nomad]

Hey Grim!

I just purchased a hellolights 4' 54w 8 bulb T5 fixture. (hard to pass up at $186 delivered with bulbs) The bulbs are 4 TRU 10K and 4 TRU actinic . 4' 55g tank.

1- any thoughts on these bulbs short term?

2- I'm switching from 4 VHO's so I was wondering about light acclimation.

3-I like a more blue tank and was thinking about a combination of


1-Aquasun
4-Blue Plus
3-Aquablue

3-Any thoughts on this light fixture? It looks just like the TEK and I believe it has workhorse ballast?

5-Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14064341#post14064341 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
Grim,

How do you decide what order to put the bulbs in? Do you try to isolate the yellows between blues? What makes the best dusk/dawn?

Isolate harsh color like yellow or red between two blues. Also have aesthetic lamps like Actinics or the reds, particularly the Pro Color center or a bit to the front so the light hits the viewing side of the corals.

Also try to hit the dusk/dawn so the actinic if included is with a blue for dusk/dawn if I happen to know the way the fixture is wired.

 

[jck9]

hey guys, im building a canopy for my 90 gal aga . it is mainly all lps and some softies (mushrooms zoas and a sinularia). im going to put 4 t5s with individual reflectors in it. eventually i am going to add two more if needed. what 4 bulbs do you suggest for highest par, best growth, good color pop from corals, flourescence, and nice crisp blue color. do you think that 4 bulbs will be enough or will i need 6? i curretly have a 4 bulb t5 odeysea fixture and things ar doing fine but think they could be doing better. thanks for any suggestions anyone has.
john

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14064624#post14064624 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Troy the Nomad
Hey Grim!

I just purchased a hellolights 4' 54w 8 bulb T5 fixture. (hard to pass up at $186 delivered with bulbs) The bulbs are 4 TRU 10K and 4 TRU actinic . 4' 55g tank.

1- any thoughts on these bulbs short term?

2- I'm switching from 4 VHO's so I was wondering about light acclimation.

3-I like a more blue tank and was thinking about a combination of


1-Aquasun
4-Blue Plus
3-Aquablue

3-Any thoughts on this light fixture? It looks just like the TEK and I believe it has workhorse ballast?

5-Thanks!

Looks like they installed cheap guts in a tek. You can tell about the ballasts by pulling the endplates and looking at the wires going to the endcaps. Workhorse ballasts have a single wire (yellow) feeding all the endcaps at one end of the lamps using jumpers and the other end will have a red wire running to each endcap with jumpers to the second hole.

Your mix of lamps should get you where you want to be.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14065110#post14065110 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jck9
hey guys, im building a canopy for my 90 gal aga . it is mainly all lps and some softies (mushrooms zoas and a sinularia). im going to put 4 t5s with individual reflectors in it. eventually i am going to add two more if needed. what 4 bulbs do you suggest for highest par, best growth, good color pop from corals, flourescence, and nice crisp blue color. do you think that 4 bulbs will be enough or will i need 6? i curretly have a 4 bulb t5 odeysea fixture and things ar doing fine but think they could be doing better. thanks for any suggestions anyone has.
john

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Should get you pretty good looks and growth.

 

[sanababit]

Originally posted by sanababit
Hey Grimm
How long do T5 HO last, i have an ATI Powermodule with 6 bulbs

Blue +
Actinic
Aquasun
Aqua Blue
Blue +
Blue +

They have been running for 10 months and they seem to have lost PAR, colors look kind of dull and some bulbs are dark at the ends, is it time to change them?, is the choice of colors good? is the actinic really necessary or can i change it to an aquablue for more PAR?

the tank is 80% SPS and 20% LPS/Softies, and the size is 48"x24"x18", thanks

Sana
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Lamps could be on the dull side at 10 months. If your fixture has the adjustable power source for the fans you might want to bump it up a notch or two.

Also place your new lamps at the opposite end of the fisture from the side plate with the vents in it. If you look at the reflectors with the lamps removed there will be holes between the reflector and endcaps at one side. Mount the lamps with the labels at that end.

For lamps you could dump the actinic

Front
Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Grim, when you mean to bump up the power supply, you mean to go from 9v to 10v?, this wont burn the fans?, is the ATI pro color better than the Aquasun?, so now for the dusk to dawn effect i need to use 2 blue plus?, why is it necessary to put the label side of the bulb to the end opposite of the vents?, and last question
how can i tell the bulbs are no good or need to be changed?, thanks

Sana

 

[Zimster]

I have a question for the experts.

If money was not a restriction, would you guys still use T-5's instead of MH for your tanks? If so, would you please explain why.

Thanks a bunch!!

 

[jennmac415]

am not one of your experts, but having used both halides and T5s I would definitely use T5s even if money was not an issue. Actually, it is going to cost me more to replace all 14 of my bulbs than it would to replace 2-3 halides more than likely.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14065747#post14065747 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sanababit
Originally posted by sanababit
Hey Grimm
How long do T5 HO last, i have an ATI Powermodule with 6 bulbs

Blue +
Actinic
Aquasun
Aqua Blue
Blue +
Blue +

They have been running for 10 months and they seem to have lost PAR, colors look kind of dull and some bulbs are dark at the ends, is it time to change them?, is the choice of colors good? is the actinic really necessary or can i change it to an aquablue for more PAR?

the tank is 80% SPS and 20% LPS/Softies, and the size is 48"x24"x18", thanks

Sana
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Lamps could be on the dull side at 10 months. If your fixture has the adjustable power source for the fans you might want to bump it up a notch or two.

Also place your new lamps at the opposite end of the fisture from the side plate with the vents in it. If you look at the reflectors with the lamps removed there will be holes between the reflector and endcaps at one side. Mount the lamps with the labels at that end.

For lamps you could dump the actinic

Front
Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Grim, when you mean to bump up the power supply, you mean to go from 9v to 10v?, this wont burn the fans?, is the ATI pro color better than the Aquasun?, so now for the dusk to dawn effect i need to use 2 blue plus?, why is it necessary to put the label side of the bulb to the end opposite of the vents?, and last question
how can i tell the bulbs are no good or need to be changed?, thanks

Sana

Pro Color has less PAR but provides a deeper red spectrum than the Auasun. It's a matter of personal taste which is better. I like the Pro Color.

The lamps have what is called a cold spot that is at the label end. That is the area that dictates the overall temp of the lamp so you want the air coming from the ducts in the ficture to cool that area of the lamp. It supposedly isn't as important with ATI lamp as they will have the cold spot migrate to the end being cooled but other lamps like the Giesemann have a dedicated cold spot so its better to get into the habit.

The best way to tell if the lamp is dead, especially blues is to put a new one in next to it an compare the look,

The fans are 12 volt fans. They will change speeds with the more power you give them. You should make sure all your fans are working as well. I two die on me.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14066055#post14066055 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zimster
I have a question for the experts.

If money was not a restriction, would you guys still use T-5's instead of MH for your tanks? If so, would you please explain why.

Thanks a bunch!!

I can afford and have used both. I started in the hobby with PC's and shortly after T5's. I switched to halides and just don't like the look as well.

One nice thing about T5's is you can custom tweak the look by mixing different lamps. You can't do that with a halide. I would Imagine someone who dives a lot would prefer a fairly low K halide because it is closer to what they see on the reef with the more shallow water coloring and shimmer lines.

 

[Zimster]

thanks grim and jennmac415

I am not one of your experts, but having used both halides and T5s I would definitely use T5s even if money was not an issue. Actually, it is going to cost me more to replace all 14 of my bulbs than it would to replace 2-3 halides more than likely.

jennmac .....why do you prefer T-5's? because of the color and variety?

 

[Nereaga]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14063451#post14063451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
The TEK is hands down the better fixture. You can't even compare these two. Current makes garbage T5 fixtures. You wouldn't be able to keep clams with either fixture.

Here are the pros and cons:

TEK Cons

1. No active cooling like stated.

TEK Pros

1. It does come with bulbs, get it from reefgeek

2. You don't need an acrylic shield and actually Grim will say not to run an acrylic shield with a TEK fixture. Just have it sit about 5 inches over the water.

NEP Cons

1. No hanging kit

2. Bulbs will need to be replaced in 6 months but I would change them from the very beginning. They are totally garbage and your corals will suffer.

3. The ballasts are no good plus you REALLY want individual reflectors.

So in short if you want to be serious about clams and SPS you will want the TEK 8 bulb fixture over your 90. Then you will want to buy the Azoo fans from liveaquaria.com

I would recommend the Constellation fixture or wait a month or two and get the new ATI Sunpower 6x54W fixture.

Bulb config:

TEK 8 bulb

ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Aquablue
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun or ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

ATI Sunpower

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

Sorry some of us dont have $600+ to spend on a fixture. I HATE RC because everyone is a pro on everything, including you apparently. You don't have to attack me, I CLEARLY stated I was no pro, like you....

The only one I care to listen to is Grim...... He knows all

FYI, my sps are growing faster and look better with my garbage T5 fixture. BETTER than when I was running 2-150w Mhs.

Guess you already knew that huh?

Brad

 

[OneFiddy]

Fixture?

Fixture?

hey Grim - like others, I applaud your advice - holy crap - you should sell your advice for a nickel a post and you can buy some of those mac daddy LED fixtures!

Here's my query:

I have a 150XH - 48x24x30. It's set up as a see through peninsula with the 2 48" sides and one 24" side visible.

Its a FOWLR now but may (or may not) be upgraded to reef. I'd like to buy the lighting once and not have a $500 throwaway fixture.

I know many will say 'for fish only, you only need a striplite' - well, I tried two PC fixtures and the additional light REALLY made the color of my expensive fish - Mystery Wrasse, Flame, Solarensis, Lineatus - pop. I just like the idea of lots of bright light.

I'm thinkin about the Nova 8x54. Lots of light for $380 shipped (marine and reef). I need a full blown fixture (not a retro).

Is there a different fixture you'd recommend or am I solid with the Nova? Also, what bulb configuration would you recommend for that use?

Thanks in advance!

 

[greenidguy]

fiddy, give the aquaactinics constelation a look. a few more $$, but a VERY good fixture.